Help me get started with DVD to DVDr :)

[scottrempel]

Hey...been at the forum quite a bit, but not in a long while. You could say I'm an old school xVCD guy I guess 8) . I plan on getting a new (and my first) DVD Writer very soon and I am trying to start learning about the process of backing up DVDs.

I'm looking for opinions on the best software to use.
It seems DVDecrypter (sp?) is the best program for ripping the movie to the HDD from what I've seen in my reading so far?
How about the encoding or transcoding or whatever its called for DVDs.....DVDshink seems popular but I've also seen some others thrown around??

If you could also point me to the best how-to guides for using the program you recommend that would be awsome. I don't mind reading and learning for myself, but I've been out of the game so long I want to atleast start down the right path.

The primary purpose here is to backup original DVD movies. I want the best possible quality. It also appears that with backing up DVDs you can keep the original menus and such so a program that can do that properly would be best. I'm guessing its possible to remove certain parts of the DVD (trailers, etc) to make the size smaller? What size of movie file can you backup to a DVDr while still maintaining great quality?

For xVCD I used TMPGEnc and other software so I'm not unfamiliar to the more complex "non-point-and-click" programs, although easier is always better....as long as its got the important options.

Thanks for all your help guys....this site has always been great!

[VicodiN]

Umm, Not to sound like an a** but, This is a joke-right? Search?

[fritzi93]

Best possible quality? Then you want to re-encode, not transcode. Although for a movie requiring little compression, try DVDShrink. Otherwise, you could use DVDRebuilder, you get your choice of modes: Rejig to transcode (Fastest), Cinema Craft Encoder, and QuEnc (Slowest). CCE is the only payware in the bunch.

Go to guides and search using the program's name. Good luck.

[scottrempel]

Umm, Not to sound like an a** but, This is a joke-right? Search?

Don't worry...you sound like as a** just fine

Like I said....due to being away soo long and having a very limited amount of time atm, it would really help me to get pointed in the right direction so I don't waste time reading about every friggin process. Some nice member like fritzi93 can simply make a 5 line post and save me hours of research...I can now go focus on what has been recommended to me in the time I do have.

Thanks fritzi!

[ddlooping]

DVD Shrink v3.1.7
http://www.dvdshrink.info/guides.php

P.S: is this post short enough?

[ghoster]

dvd decrypter to rip and burn and dvd shrink to transcode....both free and really simple to use...........

[scottrempel]

Thanks guys....It looks like I will focus my efforts on DVD decrypter (doesn't look to hard) and DVD shink....and also this DVD rebuilder.

I'm guessing DVD shrink lowers the quality of the film to make the file fit a DVDR? On average, how big is a DVD (say a 2 hour one) if you leave out the trailers and extras and just keep menus...let's assume we are keeping the 5.1 sound? Also, if DVD shrink does what I think it does....is it possible to "shink" certain parts of the movie (say the extras) more then the main movie? And lastly, what does DVD rebuilder do different (just a quick decription).

Don't reply if you are going to tell me to go read some guide lol....if you want to answer some questions go right ahead...its appreciated! I'm at work so getting a little info from you guys is speeding up the process .

Might actually be getting a Pioneer 107D very soon if all goes well!

P.S. ddlooping, that's a sweet avatar lol

[ddlooping]

I know that's not what you want to hear, but go have a look at the guides, they are animated, and not much reading is required.

"is it possible to "shink" certain parts of the movie (say the extras) more then the main movie?"
Yes.

You can also use DVD Shrink "Re-author" mode to make movie-only, movie+extras, or compilation backups (no menus though).
http://www.dvdshrink.info/reauthor_basic.php
http://www.dvdshrink.info/reauthor_intermediate.php
http://www.dvdshrink.info/compilation.php

Still in "Re-author" mode, you can apply different levels of compression to different parts of the same title (i.e, "Still-pictures" to the end-credits).
http://www.dvdshrink.info/mixed-compressions.php

P.S: Thanks, glad you like my avatar.

[winifreid]

Decryptor isn't necessay unless you plan on blanking some of the extras or your disk can't be read by shrink (rare). When people talk about quality, they should always state what they used to view the dvd. I think many who complian about poor video quality are watching on a large screen tv. I can shrink a 7 gig 150 minute film down by 58% and it looks fine on my 21 inch tv. You might be able to get more. I am not sure at what point I would begin to notice a quality loss.